Govt, Int’l Organisations Plan Disaster Risk Management Project

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has kicked off preparations to implement two disaster risk management projects in Luang Prabang and Xayaboury provinces.

The two projects, Community Resilience through Education and Community Action in Laos and Scaling up Community Based Disaster Risk Management and School Safety in Laos, will focus on the two provinces.

The projects are supported by the New Zealand government and the European Union (EU).

A meeting to discuss preparations for the two projects took place in Vientiane province last week and was attended by Deputy Director General of the Department of Disaster Management and Climate Change, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr Syamphone Sengchandala, and experts from Save the Children International in Laos and other international organisations.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the work plan for disaster risk management in Laos and plans to carry out the two projects.

According to the Lao National Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, many provinces around the country were affected by flooding this year including Luang Prabang, Xayaboury, Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, Bokeo, and Xaysomboun.

Farmland, livestock and other property sustained impacts from the flooding and many people and households suffered losses. Luang Prabang and Xayaboury provinces suffer from flooding almost every year.

In July, some 174 families in Botaen district, Xayaboury province, were affected to varying degrees, mostly in Nakha, Botaen, Donsavang, Taokeua and Nhai villages. The flooded area included 60 hectares of rice fields, 56 fish farms and some houses.

Luang Prabang province was also affected by floods, thunderstorms and strong winds.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Syamphone said Disaster risk management and climate change is an issue that Laos and other countries around the world have been encountering and trying to solve.

It’s affecting socio-economic development, especially rural communities and livelihoods. Laos is trying to cope with disaster management and climate change by cooperating with development partners, sponsors and other international organisations, he added.